The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-18

on the quarterback, too, his heavy
Cum-boots seeming to appear in half a
dozen places simultaneously, as he
pulled, and hauled, and shouted, in the
ensuing operation of reefng. while
Polly, enwrapped as to her slim form
in sort of feminine storm-coat of
waterproof cloth, which buttoned
tightly about her. and an ,oil-skin hat
fastened under her plump chin, stood
holding the wheel, in obedience to her
fathers CHEEKY commands. I
All that took place was to Tad's be.
wildered mind a terrible complicated
experience. He knew that while the
Mary j." was pitching and tossing
and rolling in all sorts of ways, the
sails were lowered part way down the
mast, where they hung banging and
Stating in a most e1asperating man.
ner. And he was dimly conscious OF
seeing Eph's long legs astride the
boOm-end, waving hither and thither,
as he tugged at rope, while Captain
Flagg and George Washington per-
formed the most unheard-of prodigies
of seamanship, as despite the strug-
Cling and bellying of the stiff canvas,
they contrived to tie it down to the
boom, so that when the sails were
hoisted up again, they were not nearly
as large as before.
And then waxing bold, the gallant
old sea-dog, Captain Jethro Flagg, de-
cided that, instead of lying to till
morning, he would-to use his own
nautical expression" keep her a-jog-
cling to the nor ard and BASTARD -
So all through that eventful night
the " Mary j." pursued her billowy
course, while poor Tad, in sadly de-
moralized state of mind and body, lay
nested in the coil of rope have men
toned, feeling, even in his deathly
sickness, oh, so ashamed! that Polly, a
girl, not quite as old as himself, should
show such courage, while he, lubber-
ly boy, couldn't even offer to do the
least thing to keep the vessel from go
ing straight to the bottom of the sea!
But l, myself, don't think there was
any thing very strange in the matter.
1t was Tad's first experience, and sea-
sickness, like conscience, makes cow
ards of us all. The Atlantic Ocean is
a terrible fellow to take the courage
out of a landsman, when it gets on a
sort of rampage; and l don't wonder
that aesthetic Mr.. Oscar Wilde, with
his fastidious tastes, should shudder-
ingly declare that he was disappointed
with it. But l believe that, in spite of
this severe criticism. the Atlantic goes
right on roaring and dashing, and
swallowing up ships, and making peo-
pie sea-sick, just as it has been doing
for ever so long.
Tad couldn't be persuaded to 60 be-
low. He thought that when the vessel
did come to 90 down, he would perhaps
stand better chance on deck-fhough.
it is true, he couldn't swim stroke.
And as he lay there all night long till
sunrise, his sickness began to abate a
little, as did also the stiff westerly
breeze which, coming further from the
south, gave the MARY j." a perfectly
fair wind for her home-bound passage.
They were all so kind, when, quite
dizzy and weak, Tad managed to stag
ger to his feet, like fly thawed out by
the warm rays of the morning sun,
which dried up the wet deck, and made
the waves of the great blue sea all
about them sparkle with gladness.
George Washington got him some hot
coffee, and said he was glad to see
him "condolescent" Captain Flagg,
who looked quite fresh and hearty in
spite of having been up all night,
smiled broadly, telling Tad that he'd
got over the worst of it, and would be-
gin to get his sea-legs on in a jiffy.
Eph grinned at him over the top of the
wheel, and proffered the use of his
jack-knife, if he (Tad) wanted to whit
tie. Polly glanced at him demurely,
and Bounce Tapped the ends of Tad's
extended fingers. On the whole, Tad
didn't feel nearly as badly regarding
his humiliation as he had expected
to; but all his bright visions
of the pleasures of seafaring life
had been swallowed up in the darkness
and terror of the night before. He was
not intended by nature for sailor, and
now Tad's greatest desire was to set his
foot on dry land again. know that, in
contrast with the average boy of juve-
unheroic, but can't help it; there are
"born sailors" and born landsmen, and
Tad was one of the latter. One must
take people and things as he finds them
in real life. Yet, as Tad began to feel
better, there was much to wonder at
and admire all about him. Far away
on the port hand was the distant coast
line, dotted here and there by the white
shaft of lighthouse. To starboard,
the ocean rolled on and on, till its
waters washed the very rim of the
great arching dome of blue which came
down to meet it. On every side were
the sails of passing vessels, and beauti-
full beyond compare was the sight of
handsome ship, with all drawing sail
set, standing in for Boston Light, head
ing almost directly for the schooner.
On she came, with her yards braced
sharp against the back-stays, throwing
the sparkling foam from the cutwater
in great swaths, that swept along her
CLASSY sides and formed creamy track
astern. As the stranger was passing
so near, Captain Flagg hailed her
through an immense speaking trumpet.
a.IIrl.+ 49,. ~. L., ~